Brighton handed VAR reprieve as Georginio Rutter opener sparks quickfire European double
Georginio Rutter’s first European goal survived a dramatic VAR check, as Brighton and Hove Albion took a 2-0 half-time lead against FK Kauno Zalgiris in the UEFA Conference League.
Albion initially saw their breakthrough ruled out after the ball was adjudged to have crossed the by-line – before Ibrahim Osman cut it back for Rutter to finish.
But a check confirmed the whole ball had not gone out of play, allowing Georginio’s 41st-minute strike to stand and giving Brighton a welcome lift against their Lithuanian opponents.
The Frenchman then turned provider before the interval, powering a cutback into the path of the returning Jack Hinshelwood, who diverted it into the net first time.
The quickfire double transformed the mood after a first half in which Albion had struggled to find their rhythm.
Former Brighton captain Adam Virgo, speaking on TNT Sports, described the opener as a ‘goal of relief more than anything for Brighton’.
“They haven't been at the races but that first goal is always important,” he said.
“It is very close and very tight. He kept his composure well and it's a tidy finish. A big goal before half-time.”
After Hinshelwood doubled the advantage, Virgo added: “A very different vibe going into half-time for Brighton now.”
The two-goal cushion came as former Albion striker Bobby Zamora backed the club to challenge for the trophy.
Speaking to Flashscore, Zamora said: “They can go far (in the Conference League) for sure.”
While acknowledging that competing across several competitions would place demands on the squad, he added: “The club is in a healthy position, so anything is possible, and there's no reason they can't go all the way.”